Dealing with azoospermia?

[Deb111]

Just a physical exam?

That's all hubby had done and some blood tests but I think everywhere seems to do things differently xx

 

[Deb111]

So does anyone know what comes next for us? I was hoping they would start giving me hormones at our next appointment to get me ready for IVF. Not sure though if they will wait until the SSR is done first. I really hope not as I just want everything done as quickly as possible as its so difficult waiting.

Most clinics seem to do the SSR first and then will start you on the meds when you either know you have sperm to use, or decide on a donor. Some do the EC and SSR on the same day (like Loobylou) but you would have to have made the decision to use a donor and have one lined up ready else your ICSI prep could all be for nothing otherwise

 

[Deb111]

Thanks for the info ladies

I was just concerned (with the other problems we've had at our clinic) that they weren't doing all the test they could be beforehand and that would have raised issues about how good they were. We were discussing having the SSR done privately last night as we didn't want to get told there were no sperm and then doubt the clinics competence and always be wondering. So I emailed a private clinic last night and asked what tests they would do before an SSR in azoospermia cases. They told me exactly the same tests as huby has had done so it put my mind at rest a bit.

Just seems there are so many tests that could at least give an indication that haven't been done ... ultrasound, fructose, urine

 

[Deb111]

OMG just noticed my ticker ... it suddenly seems to have shot from 2 months to just over 1!!!! Where did those 3 weeks go?!?!

 

[Deb111]

If anyone has any appt dates etc that they want putting on front page, please let me know and I will update. Haven't kept a very good track of things lately sorry xx

 

[Dancergirl]

Can someone explain the journal thing? I am so new to this site and don't understand exactly how things all work, but would love to learn more?

 

[Deb111]

If you want to set up a journal, it's just like an online diary but people will pop in and write in it too, just go to https://www.babyandbump.com/ltttc-ac-journals/ click on 'new thread' and add your journal just like you would add a new question or message, choose a name for your journal and away you go.

Can't remember off the top of my head how to add your journal link to your signature but will post later with that info, if no one else beats me to it

 

[Flake-y]

Appointment dates to add! IUI tomorrow morning at 11.30!!!

 

[waitingginger]

ahhh! Jo i am guessing you will of had your IUI by now so exciting! hope all goes well!! let us know!!

Well W had an ultrasound done on 2nd September and yesterday had a letter from the 'Consultant Urological Surgeon' who carried out the ultrasound reading
'Your ultrasound scan of the scrotal contents was normal and your serum testosterone was normal. I have written a letter of referral to the North Western fertility expert, Mr Stephen Payne at Manchester Royal Infirmary/St Mary's Hospital. He will see you shortly and will be taking over your mangement. You are in very capable hands and i hope all goes well'

i have been so down this week and then to get this letter yesterday i feel like things are moving forward at last!! Hulahoops Dr Payne is the same doctor you saw isnt it?!!
dont have a date for first consultation yet but will perhaps leave it 3-4 weeks then phone his secretary or something and see if they know anything!

also would an ultrasound show sperm swimming around 'scrotal contents was normal' seems a strange phrase if you cant see sperm?! but dont know whether to be more worried there isnt obviously something wrong as this would be easier to fix??!!

Oh i dont know what to think! Hope you are all having a good weekend!! oh has just phoned me after his footy match saying i am just going to watch the first half of the match in the pub then will come home... me: 'ah dont worry love stay as long as you want' (i love my quiet sunday mornings catching up on all my programmes and sitting on the internet for hours )
x x

 

[laura25]

Hi ladies,

A little of over 3 months ago hubby was diagnosed with azoospermia - I'd never heard of it. I'd also never heard of ICSI which we are now heading for. All I can say is 'thank God' for forums like this! I have found several others on here who are at various stages of going through the same process as we are and thought it would be good to have a place where we can all share our experiences and feelings.

So a little about me ...

My name's Deb and I'm 36. Hubby is 44. We've been TTC since we got married 2 years ago. After the first few months I always felt something was not quite right, but everyone told me to 'relax' and stop stressing.

In Dec 2009 we went to our GP and got referred to the fertility clinic who did some basic tests and diagnosed hubby with azoospermia (after initially telling us that hubby's first SA was 'normal' ... but that's a whole other story!)

He is now waiting for his SSR in October. It was our choice to delay until then as I wanted to get hubby on the supplements to make sure that if they do find sperm, they're the best quality they can be.

Whilst I wouldn't wish this situation on anyone, I hope that those of you who are dealing with it will drop by and introduce yourselves and if you want to let me know dates of SSR's, ICSI treatments etc, I will add them to the front page.

It would also be nice to hear any azoospermia / SSR success stories!

Deb xx

loobylou_01 - OTD 30th August 2010 -

Flake-y - IUI 17th September 2010 - PUPO

Deb111 - SSR booked for 28th October 2010

Wrightywales - ET July 2010

Step Mummy - SSR 1st September 2010

Waitingginger - Hubby's ultrasound scan - 3rd September 2010

April4jdg - HSG - 14th September 2010 - all clear

Hulahoops04 - Urology appointment 14th September 2010 - Infertility Clinic appointment - 1st October 2010

hiya my names laura ive just joined so this is all new to me! its comforting to see someone else going through the same thing as much as its a difficult thing to go through. My partner as also azoospermia but due to tamoxifen as been able to produce a low sperm count for freezing!!! we are just waiting to get on the ivf waiting list!! we have an apportment at lwh on the 4th oct 2010 so hopefully we will know what the next step will be!!
i wish you the best of luck hun!! xx

 

[Deb111]

Hi Laura and welcome

Sorry to hear about your situation. It's interesting to hear about the tamoxifen. It's not something that hubby has been offered. Were they able to give you a reson for hubby's azoospermia?

Can I ask what kind of sperm count they managed to get from your hubby?

I'm intrigued now ...

 

[Flake-y]

Hey everyone, so IUI went well, DS count was 56 mill pre-wash, 20 mill post-wash with 80% motility so looks like we made a good choice!!! lol

Now just 2 weeks to wait...

 

[Dancergirl]

Keeping my hopes up for you Flake-y.... I know how devastated it can be when IUI with DS doesn't work and I really pray you don't have to face that. Sending baby dust your way!!!

My dr. didn't give me the numbers with the DS we used, they just said that the number and mobility looked great. I will have to make sure to ask for the numbers when we go in Oct. 4th for our 3rd IUI attempt.

 

[april4jdg]

hey- there-I have been out of town for a week on business-and I am still messed up witht he timezone...LOL....

Well, DH has the appointment with the urologist this morning... I hope there is good news...

 

[Deb111]

Hope you get some good news April xx

 

[Deb111]

So today I'm feeling ... angry, frustrated, lost and probably many more things!

I will try to write this as briefly as possible as I would value opinions

- Terry's blood test at hospital showed very low testosterone. They didn't comment other than giving us the figure, which I researched and he went to speak to GP. GP agreed too low.

- GP re-did blood test - slightly better testosterone level but wanted a third one

- He's been today for results - still extremely low and think it suggests testicular failure due to very low hormones and wants him to see endocrinologist

- He thinks we should probably go ahead with the SSR as we can always have it again and may wait a while for appt with endocrinologist and treatment may then take a while

SO, MY THOUGHTS ARE ...

- why the hell didn't the hospital even suggest we saw GO about low testosterone level esp if it could indicate testicular failure - surely there is a probable link there to the azoospermia?

- why did the urologist say there was nothing we could do to help things, when this could be something that will change things, as could the tamoxifen that Laura mentioned?

- what the hell do we do about the SSR? The thought of waiting months more is unbearable, but is there really any hope as things stand with suggested testicular failure? Waiting for an appt and any treatment could delay things by 12 months and I'm nearly 37 as it is

- if we do have it done now and then the endocrinologist feels treatment for the testosterone could improve our chances, obviously, as long as there's not a blockage, we may then be able to get pregnant naturally, but if they needed to do another SSR, how long do we have to wait between SSR's?

I'm so furious with the hospital and urologist for keeping us in the dark and not even suggesting speaking to GP about low testosterone as it can suggest other issues too. I feel we get told nothing by them unless I do the research and go in all guns blazing with questions, and even then they just fob us off

Where the hell do we go from here? There's no way we'd be able to get an appt with our urologist before the SSR is booked

I just feel lost and angry

 

[Flake-y]

to you Deb...

 

[april4jdg]

Well, the urologist wants another SA- he said he hates to diagnose azoo without another SA- so DH is supposed to do another SA next week- then urologist will check the results of that- and then the urologist said we would go from there- he talked about a biopsy- he also said that from the physical exam yesterday- everything seemed normal...he said that maybe it was just a problem with "production" the day of the 1st SA- but I was thinking to myself- DH should have atleast some sperm, right- guys don;t have a SA of 0 and then have a SA with sperm- right? he should atleast be producing some, right?

oh yeah and we did get results back from DH blood test from 2nd appt- his FSH was 17.5- apparently a higher lever in the "normal" range...everything else was normal...

 

[Deb111]

I'm afraid I agree with you April. I don't think any guy would go from absolutely NO sperm, to things being ok. However, I guess they have to cover everything, from the sample not being stored correctly, to human error too. I mean, we had a letter after hubby's first sample saying everything was within 'normal range' but that they always asked for a second sample for comparison. Well it turned out someone had just pressed the wrong letter and generated the wrong letter as everything was far from fine. I guess they're just being careful. It's standard practice.

Keep us posted xx

 

[april4jdg]

I'm sure the doctor wants to cover the bases- cause the RE told us that the urologist would probably ask for another sample...

It is hard not to get mad, cause I wanted to tell the doc- listen, we have tried for the last 11 months, used opk's and I always got a positive- all my tests are fine, and I know we are going to have to do IVF/ICSI if there are any sperm to be retrieved...
so let's move on.

I am just frustrated, and nervous, and I know what the results of SA #2 are gonna be-the same as the first one.. 0

I think the doc already kinda knows he is gonna be doing a biopsy- because he talked about it with my husband that day too...